Project title: THERAPY OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WITH DISEASE-SPECIFIC ANTI-CD44 MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY

Company name : MAIMONIDEX RA LTD.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD
Specific and targeted therapy for
Rheumatoid Arthritis

KEY WORDS
Rheumatoid Arthritis,
CD44 Splice Variant, Anti-CD44 mAb

PROJECT SUMMARY
The CD44 molecule and its splice variants provide new
opportunities for the discovery of specific therapies for cancer
and inflammatory diseases.

Alternative CD44 mRNA splicing in inflammatory synovial fluid
cells of Rheumatoid Arthritis patients leads to the production of
a modified disease-specific protein, which can be targeted
therapeutically to modify the function of these cells.
The company is developing monoclonal antibodies that specifically
target this modified CD44 protein without effecting normal immune
system cells expressing the normal form of CD44.

A successful accomplishment of this project should provide the
first specific drug for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

ENTREPRENEURS
Prof. David Naor - Founder and
Scientific Advisor
Dr. Itzhak Golan - Founder and
CEO
Both of the department of Immunology at the Hebrew University and
Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem.

PROJECT STATUS
The company has started its activity in the incubator on
September 2003.
It has developed anti-CD44vRA-specific monoclonal antibodies that
selectively recognize their target on synovial fluid cells from
RA patients. These antibodies have shown specific biological
activity in in-vitro assays (inhibition of trans-well migration
of synovial fluid cells and induction of their apoptosis), as
well as a significant in-vivo therapeutic effect in a murine
model of human RA (Collagen Induced Arthritis in DBA-1 mice).

The patent covering the company's core technology is presently at
National Phase. An additional PCT application has been filed to
protect the use of Maimonidex proprietary monoclonal antibody for
the treatment of RA and other diseases.

COOPERATION REQUIRED
The company seeks strategic, manufacturing and distribution
partners.
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TEL: 972-3-7684936; FAX: 972-3-7684941; E-MAIL:
igolan@md2.huji.ac.il; igolan@radbiomed.com

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